MAHARASHTRA-Rising Tide of Resentment

MAHARASHTRA Rising Tide of Resentment Prakash Bal The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is in troubled waters, having to contend with Anna Hazare's allegations of large-scale corruption by its ministers, the judicial strictures on its conduct in the Enron renegotiation, and the sharp resentment of the Maharashtrian middle class prompted by the Sena chiefs ill-considered criticism of its literary icon. While these events have shaken the ruling alliance, there is no political force in the state which can channel the popular discontent EARLY this week, in a span of 24 hours, the Sena-BJP government was lashed by the Bombay High Court, by Marathi litterateurs and by the common man. While dismissing the writ petition against the Enron power project at Dabhol, the division bench of the Bombay High Court passed severe strictures against the state government. A wave of anger and dismay has erupted in Marathi literary circles after Bal Thackeray criticised a renowned satirist, playwright and author P L Deshpande for his speech in which he made a veiled reference to the Shiv Sena chiefs open admiration of 'thokshahi' (dictatorship). On the top of this the Sena- BJP combine has suffered a blow in the municipal council elections.